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We began the Sundays of 2018 focusing on our Baptism and what God has done for us. On January 7, we heard how we are reborn, washed, renewed, and sent. I mentioned several ways to remember God’s goodness.

1. Let your birthday be a reminder that you are reborn as God’s child in Baptism.2. Washing your hands can remind you that you are washed and forgiven in Christ. 3. After showering you put on clean clothes and each day you can also put on Christ.4. When you take a drink, invite Jesus to fill you up with himself.

In the next 3 Sundays we’ll focus on Jesus invitation: ‘Follow me’:

Following is coming to know and trust him which then leads us to invite others.

Discipleship is ‘knowing Christ and making him known.’

Join me also on Tuesday evenings, January 9, 16, and 23, as we go into more depth looking at all that the Lord is doing in and through our Baptism.

Read Romans 8, Colossians 3, 2 Corinthians 5.

January Sunday Adult Classes

New Member Class continues thru February 11

How to read the Bible - January 14 and 21

Would you like to be able to read the Bible and discern more of what God is teaching and telling you? Please join Lisa Simms on Sunday, from 9:30 - 10:15 AM to go on a journey of learning a method to go deeper into the Word. God has so much to share with each of us personally! Bring your Bible, a notebook and an open heart! Hope to see you!

Voters Information Meeting - January 14 and 21

Information about three topics requiring votes at the Annual Meeting will be presented.

The 2018 Church Budget

Constitution and By-Law Changes

​The proposed changes are as follows: BFLC Constitution Chapter 12.02 add underlined verbiage: 12.02 The members of the Church Council, except the Pastor(s), shall be elected by majority vote by written ballot or voice vote at the annual meeting of the congregation as described in the Bylaws and/or Continuing Resolution(s). They shall serve terms of 3 years or until their successors are elected and shall stand for re-election at the completion of their first term. Their terms shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting at which they were elected. BFLC Bylaw Chapter 10.05.01 add underlined verbiage: Bylaw 10.05.01 Voting at Congregation Meetings All candidates for election will be listed on a single ballot with incumbents identified.

Recommendations about our current special Study Group’s introspective look at BFLC

Healthy Relationships begins January 28

Annual Meeting On Sunday, January 28

BFLC gathers for our annual meeting. In it, we celebrate what God has done among us and through us this past year. We also anticipate what He is calling us to be about in 2018 and beyond. Bring a dish to share and come hear what God is up to at BFLC.

2018 Flower Chart The Flower Chart is up on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Flowers are $18.00.

Book Stew 2018The Book Stew is scheduled for January 14th, 21st, and 28th. If you would like to donate books we are collecting them in the Fellowship Hall. This year's proceeds will be donated to Springs Rescue Mission. Thank you for your continued donations and support.

Senior SocialWe are resuming on January 24. Join us for our monthly get together to socialize, play dominoes, or do crafts. There is no obligation to participate in the games. Individuals bring their own crafts to work on. Others use the opportunity to just sit and talk. Light snacks are provided.

BFLC Book GroupWHAT THE BFLC BOOK GROUP IS READING IN JANUARY: Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani Discussion on Wednesday, January 17th at1:00 PM.

BFLC DVD Lecture and LunchThe Lecture and Lunch has started, with a bit of twist. Instead of a religious topic as we have done for the past two series, we thought we would expand to look at American history. The lecture series will be “America’s Founding Fathers”, a lively, insightful and engaging survey of the people and politics of the formative years of the American Republic. If you think our current political atmosphere is acrimonious, you will gain hope from this series by learning what intense differences our founding fathers struggled over to establish our unique form of government.Pack your lunch and come join us each Tuesday, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM for this enjoyable walk through the beginning of the nation. As always, friends and neighbors are invited. Questions can be directed to Steve Lord.

Souper Bowl of Caring is a national movement of young people working to fight hunger and poverty in their own communities around the time of the Super Bowl football game. We will be collecting monetary donations and food for the people in need. Our donations will go to Black Forest Cares.

10 - Sweetheart Dinner11 - New Member Reception

Didi in the CongoSerafina is back in the Congo with Didi. She had a difficult trip as one connecting flight was delayed. Air travel is not as safe in Africa as we are used to. Travelers go through intermediate countries, where the language might be different and treatment depends somewhat on what country your passport is from. Her initial flight to Africa was to Togo, between Benin and Ghana. From there she went to Ethiopia in the NE part of the continent, and finally to Kinshasa in the DRC, a center of unrest.There is increasing chaos in the DRC, as even those few who work are often unpaid. The strife leads to domestic problems as children are abandoned or violence occurs in the family. It is long past time for the president to step down and for new elections. According to Didi, the government had shut down internet access for a month.Boma is in the hottest time of the year, temperatures near 100⁰ F with high humidity. The farmers are growing some food; thanks, in part, to our assistance. There is however, danger of both animals damaging the crops or hungry people stealing what the can eat.Please continue to pray for Didi’s health and safety as there is considerable unrest in the Congo. He would like to get emails from those who care for his work.

Music ProgramsChoir - Meets on Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM, we welcome new voices.Handbells - Meets on Monday nights at 7:00 PM, check it out!

Mailboxes 2018Giving Envelopes and a note from the church secretary are in your church mailboxes.

MOPS (Mothers-of-Preschoolers) MOPS meets 2nd & 4th Fridays of the month. Several moms and soon-to-be moms from our church and community have enjoyed meeting regularly this fall for devotional time and other fun activities. If you would like to join this group of young women, please contact Jeanette or Lisa in the office.

Why Choose a Columbarium? A columbarium is a group of compartments or niches designed to hold cremated remains or cremains of loved ones. Black Forest Lutheran Columbarium is in a beautiful and peaceful location offering mourners a private place of solace. Our columbarium is intended for use by current or former members of BFLC and members of their immediate families (parents, spouses or children). Flexible inurnment options allow family members to be placed side-by-side or in the same niche. Costs vary based on niche type. For more information contact the office or pick up a brochure.

Healing Prayer Here at BFLC we invite people to take the opportunity to be individually prayed for, within the liturgy of Holy Communion. Why do we offer healing prayer? Having received the bread and the wine and experienced the Real Presence of Jesus (Martin Luther’s words), we are nourished in our relationship with the Lord. We can then respond to Jesus invitation to “come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).If you choose to receive healing prayer, the prayer minister will lay hands on your head or shoulder, and pray for you in a general blessing or specific request. In this way we answer the call to “pray for each other so that you may be healed.’ (James 5:16). See you at the cross.

Sunday Quarters Food for the PoorThe Social Ministry Committee is now directing all quarters put in the offering plate on Sundays to Food for the Poor, which was established in 1982. This organization ministers to impoverished people in 17 Caribbean countries and Latin America. Their goals are to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the men, women and children they serve. Their mission is to link the church of the First World with the church of the Third World in a manner that helps both the materially poor and the poor in spirit. They acquire shipping containerloads of donated goods and, using well-established shipping and distribution systems, the donations are transported directly to local churches for distribution or special projects.Food for the Poor is one of the ministries BFLC is not supporting with an annual gift, except for our quarters. One reason this ministry caught our attention is the fact that 94.49% goes to the ministry, and they have a high “watchdog service ranking”. Consider putting your silver in the Lord’s hands every Sunday.

Starting Your Day With GodHave a quiet interlude with God before you begin your full day can bring assurance of being prepared for what they day may hold. Martin Luther stressed the need for time and prayer with God before anything else. Our Portals of Prayer devotional booklets have a brief scripture and thought provoking devotion written for each day. Pick one up and take the time to give it a try as you continue to grow as a disciple of Christ.

Special ThanksEach of us on staff would like to express our gratitude for your generous gifts during this Christmas Season. It is comforting to know we are surrounded by such a caring church community. Thank you!

Dear Friends of our Military at BFLC,Thank you so much for your generous donation of $105.07 to provide Psalm 91 bandanas to our troops.Mary GrayOperation Bandanas

Dear Friends in Christ,Thank you for your gift of $200 to Food for the Poor.Robin Mahfood

Dear Friends,On behalf of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, thank you so much for your donation of $200 to assist our families of seriously ill children.Beth AlessioExecutive Director

Dear BFLC,Thank you for your recent gift of $211.00 to Luther Seminary.Dan SassenbergDirector of Advancement Services

Dear Friends,Thank you so much for your gift of $200 to Compassions Where Most Needed Program.Jimmy MelladoPresident

Dear BFLC,Thank you for your generous gift of $200 in support of Global Health Ministries and our partners around the globe.Pastor Doug CoxExecutive Director

Dear Friends, We recently received your gift of $200 to Lutheran World Relief. Thank you.Daniel SpeckhardPresident

BFLC,Thank you for all of the care packages you’ve sent over this past year. They have been a life savor to me and my soldiers…. Especially during exercises.Sincerely,Jake Partridge

BFLC Travel GroupThe next Travel Group gathering is at Dick & Avelyn Ullom’s. They will be hosting a brunch at their home on Saturday, February 3rd at 10:30 AM

Thrivent Member Network - Rocky Mountain RegionAs part of the Thrivent Member Network, we are part of a generosity movement, which makes an impact on helping others:

Members across the region led over 2,900 Thrivent Action Team projects that improved their local communities

Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, 9 homes were funded and built and 20 were funded and repaired $1,723,573 Choice Dollars were directed to churches and nonprofit organizations. You’re making a difference – you’re helping more people and families, resulting in stronger congregations and communities!

If you would like to lead a Thrivent Action Team in 2018, contact Mary Montie. Remember, you get $250 upfront seed money in the form of a debit card. If you are not a Thrivent member, contact Mary anyway, she’ll find someone to work with your idea.

Luther Land TripPastor Ken is planning to host a Luther Land trip to Germany the Fall of 2018. Interested? Let the office know.

Email coming out soon!! Pre-authorized Withdrawal is Available at BFLC​The Simply Giving Program is offered by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans at no charge. It is a reliable, safe way to move your stewardship plan into action. It allows you to share your donations through planned giving and activates your generosity into ongoing stewardship. Because your donation is given consistently, you won’t need to play “catch-up” at year-end or worry about forgotten checkbooks or missed Sunday offerings. If you would like more information, contact the church office or Nancy Lord .